Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello, Dr. Juan Carlos Rodríguez and David Price, Vanessa and Melanie Alenier, Todd and Jeff Delmay, Summer Greene and Pamela Faerber and Don Price Johnston and Jorge Isaias Díaz joined their lawyers and representatives from the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality Florida at a press conference in Miami Beach. Each of the couples sought to apply for marriage licenses at the Miami-Dade County Courts’ clerk’s office on Jan. 17.

The Equality Florida Institute is also named in a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in Miami.

Harven Ruvin, clerk of the Miami-Dade County Courts, is named as a defendant.

“Florida is our home, it is where we are raising our child, and where we want to get married,” said Pareto, who has been with Arguello for 14 years and with whom she has 15-month-old son in a press release. “Karla and I wish for our family the same things that other families want. We want to build our lives together, provide a safe and caring home for our child, and share in the responsibilities and protections of marriage.”

Florida voters in 2008 approved a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Equality Florida announced shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court last June found a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional that the organization was looking for plaintiffs to challenge the Sunshine State’s gay nuptials ban.

“Governor [Rick] Scott supports traditional marriage,” the governor’s spokesperson, John Tupps, told the Washington Blade. “Florida voters amended the State Constitution in 2008 to define marriage as between a man and a woman.”

Former Gov. Charlie Crist, who is challenging Scott as a Democrat, in 2006 signed a petition in support of the constitutional amendment. The one-time Republican who has faced persistent questions about his sexual orientation late last year said he now regrets his decision.

“I’m proud to support the lawsuit challenging Florida’s ban on marriage equality,” wrote Crist on his Twitter page on Tuesday. “It’s an issue of fairness.”

Michael K. Lavers is the international news editor of the Washington Blade.
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Madeleine Alvarez

My partner and I have been together for 24 years. I believe is our right to get married in Florida!!!
We want to get married here, because our family and friends are all here. I hope Florida is the next state to passes the law!!!
It’s about time